Mining machine



Sept. 29, 1931. c, 05 000 1,824,965

MINING MACHINE I Original Filed Feb.- 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet lJun/Enron: CHfiRLEs 505 000. 4M

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 19, 1930 0 0 5 3 o o o 0 r o o o oMW M 0 WI 2? a 5 W Z fig a i w Z: :I H Mm my 4 Q m 3 w H 1 7 .a J L 5 m1 m n v 8 I t. 5 w 3 W u 2 Mm l/ w 6 w Patented Sept. 29, 1931 CHARLESE. oseooi); or eslsenera wi nemrsrrmn, AssIGNoa'ro sntnrvm MAQHINERYcoursing-A poRPOItAIIonpF MASSACHUSETTS. I

litmus mnonriv n' Applieation- 1me ;1=ebruary' 19,19so,' Serialnaczaesa- Renewed eunue1, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines andmoreparticularly has reference to improved flexible feeding means for acoalminin machine of the continuous C5 115 cutter,

bottom. cutting type. H e

An object of thisinvention is to provide an improved coalmining'machi'neland more particularly improved 1 feeding; means 1 forsuch a machine. Another object is to pro- .10 vide an. improved'miningmachine ofnthe flexibly fed, continuous cutter,,bottom cutting typewhich isextremely lowinheight, especially-adapted to .use in lowveinwork. A furtherobject of this invention. is to provide an improvedminingmachine of the flexibly fed room and'pillar typer Another objectof this invention is to provide an improved mining machine of theaforesaid character having improved; feeding and guiding mechanism and.more particularly improved feeding and guiding means for a room andpillar typewof mining machine whereby the machine may be ,fedandcontrolled in a more facile and expeditiousmane5 ner. 'A furtherobject is to provideanimproved mining machine ofwthe room and pillar,iowvein type having improved feeding and guiding mechanismwhereinseparate relatively rotatable, power operated and controlledfeed, operating and controlling members respectively cooperating withseparate flexible feeding elements are employed for feeding and guidingthe: machine. for

sliding movementover the mine bottom, the said members andjthednvmgnmchamsm therefor being arranged, in .an improved manner on the;machine -whereby-the machine is rendered extremely compact ver tically.Another object is gtQ -provi desin a flexible feeding means of theaforesaid character. improved driving and ;=control ling means for thefeed operating and controlling members whereby the latter may beseparately or simultaneously driven in a direction to draw :intheirrespective flexible feeding elements at relatively low speed or atrelatively highspeedland having incorporated therein improved controlmechanism wherebythe said members may rotate in a direction to pay out.theirrr'espective flexible feedingelements undervarious degrees ofoperator-controlled jflll'r tional resistance .or without-suchresistance as conditions may require. A further object is to provideinsuch a feeding-meansimproved mechanism including a fast'and slow speed.gear trainforeach member through which it, but not the othermembenisidriven and means for connecting each member to either of itsgear trains wherebyisaid members may be rotated independently in windingcli-rection at either. a relatively high speed or a relatively lowspeed, eachgear train rfor each member-having a separate frictioncontrolling clutch wherebyeither member maybe driven at either speedcatwill. These and other objects ancladvantagesjof this invention will,however, hereinafter more fully appear. 1

in .the accompanying drawings there is shownfor. purposes ofillustration one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice.V Inthese drawings e Fig. 1 isa planview of the illustrative embodimentof the improved mining. machine. r Fig. ,2 is an enlarged fragmentaryplan view; of the feeding end of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the topcover plate being removed and parts shown in horizontal section toillustrate: structural details. 1. Fig. .3 is a transverselverticalsectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.-. g'- ingvertical sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2. v I

. ;F ig.v5is adetail sectional view illustratr ing the centralbearing-support for one of the winding drums.

; Fig.1,6-isa detail sectional view illustrating the resilient pivotalmountingfor the clutch ipper In this illustrative embodiment ofthe-invention the improved flexible feeding means is shown embodied in acoal mining. machine of the continuous cutter; bottom cutting,

room and. pillar type although it will been:-

dent; that the various novel features of the 109 d is centrallongitudinally extend-.

2 upon which the machine is slidably, sup-.

ported for movement overthe mine bottom. A's 1911511211 in IDIIIIIIg IIIELChIIIQS of the room cutter ba r 3" supporting on its margin an endlesscutter bit carrying cutter chain 4. Arranged at the rear end of. themachine at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line thereof arerelatively rotatable feed operating and controllingmembers 6 and 7herein in the form of cable winding or haulage drums with which feedingandcontrol:

ling 'cables 8 and 9 respectively cooperate.-

'As illustrated, carried by the machine frame is a centrally locatedmotor 10, which may be of reversible electric type, of a lowcompact'design having its power shaft 11' horizontally disposed andextending longitudi 'nally of the machine. ,The cutter chain4 is'operatively connected to the front end of the motor shaft through'anysuitable transmission means, which may be, of the same general characterasthat disclosedin a copending application to one Morris P. Holmes, Ser.No. 136,446, filed Sept; 20, 1926. The feed operating andcontrollingdrums'6 and 7 are disposed on parallel ver tical axes in a'novel mannerand are operatively connected to the rear end of 'the motor shaftthrough improved transmission meanst'o be hereinafter described. If'desired, the feed cablesmay be extended directlyfrom the feed drumsduring the feeding of th'e machine but-in the present instance thereareprovided at the opposite rear corners of the -machine frame onupstanding axes, guiding sheaves 12 and 13. A central guide sheave 14 isalso provided while arranged at'the opposite sides of'the front end ofthe 'machine frame are guide sheaves 15 and 16. Thefeeding andcontrolling cables 8 and 9, afterfpassing around any preferred guidesheaves, may be'extended in any preferred direction from the machine andattached to suitably positioned anchors in the manner 5,; which is wellunderstood in the mining machine art.

[ N ow referring to the improved feeding mechanism and more particularlyto the improved transmission means between the motor and the feed; andcontrolling drums, it

will'be' noted that" secured to the rear end of the'motor shaft 11 is aspur pinion 17 meshing with spur gears 18 and 19 journaled onhorizontalstub shafts 20 fixed within the machine frame and arrangedrespectively.

parallel with the motor shaft. These spur gears l8, 19 mesh with aninternal gear 21 keyed, as shown in Fig. 4, to a horizontallongitudinally extending shaft 22 suitably journaled within the machineframe. The axis of this shaft lies in a longitudinally extendingvertical plane including the motor axis. Fixed to the shaft 22 is a spurgear 23 meshing with a spur gear 24 keyed to a *horizontalshaft 25arranged parallel with, and pillar type','ri'gidly se'curedwithin themachine frame and projecting forwardly lengthwise thereof is anelongated plane 23 and 24 are change speed gears and may be removed andreplaced with gears having a different tooth ratio so that differentlyrelated predetermined feeding speeds may be obtained. Herein, keyed tothe shafts 22 and 25 respectively are worms 26 and 27 the Worm 26 havingteeth of steeper lead and oppositely inclined from the teeth of the worm27; However, since the shafts 22 and 25 rotate in opposite directionsthe worms effect drive in the same direction although at differentspeeds. A fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism isprovided between the worms 26, 27 and each of the winding drums and asthe structure of each of these transmission mechanisms is substantiallyidentical the description of one will-suffice for both. Now referring tothe fast and slowpredetermined speed driving mechanism between the wormsand the'winding drum-6, it will-be observed that meshing with the worm26 is a fast speed worm wheel 28 while meshing with the worm 27 is aslow speed worm wheel 29, these worm wheels being coaxially arranged ona vertically extendingaxis parallel'with the drum axis. These wormWheels are' suitably journaled within the machine frame and are arran edin an extremely compact manner there y reducing the vertical dimensionof the feeding mechanism so that the height of the machine is determinedby the vertical dimension of the motor 10. J ournaled within bearingssupported by the hubs of the worm wheels 28, 29 is a vertical shaft 30and the worm wheels are"selectively connectible to the shaft by means ofmultiple disc clutches 31 and 32 Keyed to the lower end of the verticalshaft 30 is a spur pinion meshing with the teeth of an'internal gear 34herein formed integrally with the winding drum. It will thus be seenthat when friction clutch 31'is applied and clutch 32 released, thewinding drum 6 may be driven in winding direction at a relatively highspeed through gearing 17, 18, 19, 21, shaft 22, worm gearing 26, 28,shaft 30, and the spur pinion 33 meshing with the internal gear-34secured to the drum. It will also be seen that when clutch 31 isreleased and clutch 32 applied the winding drum 6 may V worm wheels 35and 36 meshing with the mamas be r driven in winding-direction at' arelatively I slow i speed through the reduction gearing 23, 24 and wormgearing 27, 29. As previously mentioned a the, transmission mechanismfor the winding drum 7- is sub-' stantially identical to that for thewinding drum 6' and includes fast and slow speed worms 26 and 27respectively'and connectible by similar multiple disc clutches 37 and 38in driving relation with the winding drum 7. When one orthe other of thefrietion clutches 37, 38 is applied and the other released the windingdrum-7 may be rotated in winding direction at either a relatively highspeed or a relatively :low speed," depending upon which one of theclutches is connected from their. drive, for instance when it is desiredto unwind the feed cables from the-drumsby hand. Such clutches are.

usual in miningmachines of the type disclosed and as they do not:specificallyenter into this invention illustration ofthe same isthought to be unnecessary. i

The operating 'means for the friction clutches 31 and'32 within thewormwheels 28, 29 respectively herein comprises a shipper yoke 40 pivotedatl. on the machineframe and equipped with rollers 42 'engageable withthe opposed plane surfaces of cylindrical pressure plates 43 and 44 forthe clutches respectively. vEach of these plates has projections.extending into engagement with the adjacent end disc of the clutch. Thearm 150f the shipper yoke is bifurcated at 46 and straddles a verticalbolt 47 thread edly connected at 48 within the machine frame. Thebifurcated portion of the shipper yoke engages transverse platesyieldably connected together and forming a resilient pivotal mountingvfor the shipper yoke. Upon overloadof either of the clutches thispivotal mounting is adapted to yield, permitting the clutch to slipandeliminating the possibility of. breakage of the feed driving parts. Themeans for swinging the shipper yoke about its pivot comprises a :shaft49 rotatably mounted withinsuitable bear ings carried by the machineframe and having an eccentric portion 50 ivotally connected to theshipper yoke; ecured to the outer end of'the shaft 49 is an operatinghandle 51 convenientlylocated at the rear endof the machine; It wil-lbethus seen that when the handleol is rotated in one'dii-ection' or theother the shipper yoke 40. is swung upwardly tor downwardly about itspivot to-apply either'theclutch '31 or the clutch 32. The parts are-soarranged that'it is impossible to eflect simultaneous application of theclutches, one "clutch always being released when theiother" is applied.

Similar operating mechanism including-a pivoted shipper yoke 52,operatingshaft 53 and operating handle 5* is employed for controllingthe friction clutches 37 v and 38 of the drive for the winding drum 7. i

Each of the drums 6 and 7*isjournaled upon the machineframeina similarmanner and,'as shown in'Figfifthe winding drum 6 is provided with a hubportion 55 rotatably suplported on'ball bearings 56 within the mac ineframe. A spacing sleeve 57 and a central holding bolt '58 are providedfor maintaining the drum bearings in proper spaced relation. As showninFig. 3,'-the drums 6 and 7 are arranged within ashamber 59 extendingtransversely completely across the lower -portion of the machine 'frame'so that the feedhables maybe ex tended from themachine in variousdirections. i

The mining machine is adapted to'be supported on a self-propelledtransport truck during movement thereof about the mine and mechanism isprovided on the machine for driving the truckwheels. This truck drivingmechanism includes;an'eXtensionGO on the shaft 221 having keyed theretoon its reduced end a cylindrical truck driving member 61 journaledwithin a bore 62 formed within the machine frame. This member 61 isprovided with a central polygonal socket 63 which is adapted 1 toreceive a'similarly shaped member on the truck. When the machine ismounted on the truck with the member filin' driving relation with thetruck member, the truck wheels may be driven from the motor 10 throughgears-17, 18, 19, 21, shaft 22; shaftextension 60 and the truck drivingmember 61 on-the' machi-ne.= Various modes of operation of the improvedma- V chine will be clearly apparent to those skilled, in the art and asthe methodof-use of a room and pillar mining machine is well knownfurther description of the operation of the machine is thoughtunnecessary I As a result of this improved construction it will beobservedtha't an extremely low, com aratively short, compact machine ispro need and one which is accordingly ada ted tense in even the lowestcommercial y workable veins of coal. Furthermore this improvedcopstruction enables anextremely compact machine to be obtained whereinthe lengththereof is reducedto a minimum,.the improved feed mechanismand the novelcompact arrangement offthe drivl lling gearsand'feeddrumSQon'theimachine reducing the dimensionsjof'the. machine toa minimum. Furthermore .byarranging the feed and controlling drums in:the .novel manner disclosed andwby providingthe improved arrangement of;theitransmission mechanism for driving the drums. the machine is notonlyrenderedextremely. compact, but is also exceedingly flexible inoperationand easy to handle especiallyduring the various maneuvering oftheniachine to position the same toieflect its suniping, transverse, andwithdrawal .cu'ts in' accordance with the room and pillar system-ofmining. It, will also be noted that the improved feed ing mechanism isextremely well balanced and symmetrical in design,-- the drivingmechanismsfor the drums beingwubstantially identical inconstruction,.thereby re ducing the number of different parts -.wi ththe resultant decreasein the-cost of manufacture and replacement. Theseand other uses and advantages of'the improved mining machine will beclearly apparent to those skilled in the art. v I VVhilethere; is inthis; application specifically'described'one form which-the inventionmay assume in practice, it will be-understood that this form of the sameis shown forpurposesof illustration and thatthe invention may bemodified and embodied in various other: forms without departing from.its spirit or .the scope o f-the. appended claims. What I claim as newand desire towsecure by Letters Patent is:'- a

1. A mining machinefeeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members. each disposed on ,avertical axis and adaptedtocooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor ;-operateddriving means for 'said. members including a plural predetermined speed1 transmission mechanism for each, member through :which it, but not theother-member, is driven, each transmission; niechanisnrf including .afast predetermined speed-gear train and a slow predetermined speedgear-train and .a= friction controlling clutch foreachtrain. forconnecting said trains f driving. relation with theirirespectivemembers. I

2. A mining machln'e feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding menibers each disposed 0n.a ..'.vertical;axis and adapted tocooperate directly. with flexible feeding means-,and motor operateddriving means for said members-including,1a plural predetermined speedtransmission: mecha nism for each member through ;Wl1l Cl1;i f,'-'b11tnot theot-her member, is driven. for rotating said members ina directionto draw-intheir respective feeding means either separatelyorsimultaneously, each. rtransmission' mechanism including afast'predeterm'inedspeed gear train and a slow predetermined :speed geartrain and afriction controlling clutch ously in. a; direction to drawinfdr-eachitraiiifor connecting said trains in driving relationwith theirrespective members. Y

3-. A mining machine feeding; mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding membBfS jQflCll disposed on.a;vertical axis and adapted tocooperate directly with flexible feeding-means, and motor operateddrivin means for. said. membersincluding a plural predetermined speedtransmission mechanismfor each member through which it, but not theother-member, is driven for rotating said members either separately orsimultaneouslyin a direction to draw in their respectivefeeding means,each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed geartrain and a slow predetermined speed gear train and a frictioncontrolling clutch for each train for connecting said trains in drivingrelation withtheir respective mem bers and for permitting said membersto rotate in a direction to pay out their respective flexible feedingmeans under various degrees of frictional resistance.

auAminingmachine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding mem bers;.each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted, tocooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operateddriving means-for said. members including a plural predetermined speedtransmission mechanism for; each member'through which it, but not the.other member,

is driven for rotating saidmembers either separately or simultanetheirrespective feeding means, each transmission mechanism including a fastpredetermined speed geartrain and a slow predetermined speed gear trainanda friction controlling clutch forseachltrain for connecting saidtrains in driving relation with their respective members,.for permittingsaid members to rotate in a. direction to pay out their respectiveflexible feeding means under various degrees of frictional resistance,or without such resistance.

5. A,mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members: each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted tocooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operateddriving means for said members including a plural predetermined speedtransmission mechanism' for each member through which it, but

not: theother member, is driven, said transmission mechanisms eachincluding separate fast" and slow predetermined speed worm gear trains,one gear tram being inoperative to-drive its respective member while theother gear train is connected in driving relation' with itsniember.

6. A mining machine feeding mechanism including'relatively rotatablefeeding mem-.

'bers each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directlywith flexible of said feeding member's;

feeding means, and motor. 0 erated drivin means for. said members incuding a plum predetermined speed transmission. mechanism for eachmemberthroughwhich it, but not the other member, is driven saidtrans missionmechanisms each includlng separate fast and slow predetermined speedgear trains, one gear train being inoperative to drive its respectivememberwhile the other gear train is connectedin drivingarelationclutches for alternatively connecting. said gear trains vin drivingrelatiomwith their respective members.

7. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeedingmem-; bers each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means, and motor operated driving means for said membersincluding a fast and slow predeterminedspeed-{gear train for each memberthrough which it,- but not the other member, is driven, all of the gearsof said gear trains rotating on fixed axes during drive ateither'speed-*and thefinal gears of said trains being'arran'gedonvertical axes. 8. A mining machine feeding mechanism includingrelatively rotatable feeding membersdisposed on vertical axes andeachadapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, and motoroperated driving means for said members-including a fast and slowpredetermined speed gear train foreach member through which it, but notthe other feeding member, is driven, all'of thegears of said gear trainsrotatingonfixed axes during drive at either speed {and the final gearsof said trains being'arranged'onaxes'parallelto a line'p'ara'llelwithjtheaxes 9. A mining mach'ne feeding mechanism including relativelyrotatable feeding jme'mbers rotating on vertical axes and each adaptedto cooperate directly with flexible" feeding means, andmotor operateddriving means for said members including'fast and slovv predeterminedspeed gear 3 trains for each member through which it, but notthe othermember, is driven and control"clutches for each train for rotating saidmembers in a direction to draw; in their respective flex: 1ble feedingmeans at a relatively fast 'or;

a relatively slow speed. 10. A mining machine feedingmechanism Iincluding relatively rotatable feeding mem-' bers rotating on verticalaxes and each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means,and-motor operated driving; means for said members including fast and.

' 7 slow predetermined speed gear trains for each member through whichit, but "not the other member, is driven and control clutches for eachtrain for rotating said members in a direction to draw in theirrespective' flexible feeding meanest a relativelyfast other member, isdrivenfand control clutches a direction to draw in their respectiveflexeible feeding meansat arelatively fast for a relatively slow speed, topermit said ;mTem'-i bers to. rotate in a direction. to pay: out theirrespective feeding means :under 7 varioiisde- 23 such resistance.

' 12. Amining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding meme.

bers each adap'tedto cooperate directly with; flexible feeding means.and disposed: on 'ver: tical axes, and *motor operated" drivingi meansfor said members including aizfastg and slow predetermined speedtransmission mechanism for each member through which:

it, but not the other member, is "driven, all

of the gears of said transmission mechanisms rotating on fixedaxesduring drive at either speed. 18. A mining machine feeding mechanismincluding relatively rotatable feeding memf. bers each adapted tocooperate directly: vvith.'* flexible feeding 'means and disposed onverfor saidmembers including a fast and-slow; predetermined; peedtransmisslon mechag gears I of 1 said transmission mechanisms J ro-ftating on fixed axes during drive at either' speed and each transmissionmechanism in-' eluding; a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slowpredetermined speed gear" train. Q ,Q f

"14. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeedingmein bers each adapted to cooperate directly flexible feedingmeans and disposed on ye l tical' axes, and motor o'pera'ted drivingmeans for said members including 'a fast and sl'ovv predetermined speedtransmission 'mecha nism for each member through: vvhichit, but.nottheother member, is: driven, all of the. gears of said. transmission,n1echan1sms zro= tating onffixed axes during drive at either speedandeach transmission mechanismlna. eluding a fast predetermined 'speedrgea r;

train and a slow predetermined speed: gear train and controlling:clutches one individre'es of frictional resistance or .ivithout? i 1 foreach train for rotating said: members in:

tical axea and motor operated driving meansfl nectin said gear trains indriving relation with t e1r-respect1ve members.

'15. A mimng machine feeding mechamsm including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means therefore mcludmg a fast andslow predetermined speed transmission H mechanism for each memberthrough which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmissionmechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slowpredetermined speed gear train and each gear train havinga final gearindividual flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving meanstherefor including afa'st and slow predetermined speed transmissionmechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, isdriven, each transmission mechanism including :.a fast predeterminedspeed gear train and :a' slow' predetermined speed gear train and'eachgear train having 'a final gear individual f thereto and rotatable abouta vertical'axis .at the respective predetermined terminal speed of thetrain and friction controlling clutches, one individual to each terminalgear, for selectively connecting said terminal gears in driving'relationwith their respective'membersm i v1'7. mining machine feeding mechanismincluding relatively rotatable feeding, mem

bers each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, andmotor operatedv driving means therefor includingza-V- fast and slowpredetermined speed transmission mechanism. for each member throughwhich it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmissionmechanism including a fast predetermined gear-train and a slow pre--determined gear train, the gear-trains for final gears respeceach memberincluding tively individual thereto and rotatable about a vertical axisat the, respective predeten mined speeds of the trains and" in coaxialrelation. T i c 18. A m1n1ng machine feeding mechanism includingrelatively rotatable feeding mem- V bers each adapted to cooperatedirectly'with' flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving meanstherefor including a fast and slow predetermined "speed transmissionmechanism for each memberthrough which i it, but not the othermember, isdriven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speedgear-train and a slow predetermined speed gear train, said gear trainsincluding a fast speed worm and a slow speed worm andfsaid fastiand slowspeed worms rotating on" parallel 1ongitudin ally extending axes andbeing so disposed that a vertical plane to which their axesare-perpendicular cuts both of said worms. ,I

I 19. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted tocooperate directly with flexiblefeeding-means, and motor operated driving means therefor including afast and slow vpredetermined speed transmission mechanism for eachmember through vwhich it, but not the other member, is driven, eachtransmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear trainand a slow predetermined speed gear train, said gear trains of eachtransmission mechanism including a fast speed worm and a slow speedwor'm,-said worms rotating on parallel longitudinally extending axes,and worm wheels meshingwith each worm,vsaid worm wheels, in each of saidfast and slow speed trans- -mission mechanisms, being coaxial, and theaxis of Worm wheelrotation of said different fast and slow speedtransmissions being parallel.

20. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans,=and motor operated driving meanstherefor including a fast andslow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member throughwhich it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmissionmechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and, a slowpredetermined speed gear train, said gear trainspfeach transmissionmechanism including a;fast speed worm anda slow speed Worm, said Wormsrotating on parallel 1ongitudinally extending axes, worm wheels meshingwitheach worm, said worm wheels, in' -each .of said fast and slow speedtransmission me chanisms, being coaxial, and the axe'sof worm wheelrotation of said different fastland slow-speedtransmissions beingparallel, and vcontrolling clutches for con nectingsaid worm wheels indriving relation with their respective members.

, 21. A mining-machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members;;each disposed on avertical axis and adapted tocooperate directly with flexible feeding: means, and motor operateddriving means for said members including a plural predetermined speedtransmission mechanism .for'each member through which it, but not theother member, is driven, each transmission"mechanismv including a fastpredeterminedspeed gear train-and a slow predeterminedispeedgear train,and clutch devices for --selective1y "connecting either train in driving'relationwith their respective feeding member.

i 22. mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted tocooperate directly with flexible each gear train, for selectivelyconnecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feedingmember. 7

23. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly withflexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means for said members including aplural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each memberthrough which it, but not the other member, is driven, said transmissionmechanisms being arranged generally on vertical axes and each includinga fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speedgear train, and clutch devices for selectivelyconnecting said trains indriving relation with their respective feeding members. I

24. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means for said members including aplural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each memberthrough which it, but not the other member, is driven, said transmissionmechanisms being arranged generally on vertical axes and, each includinga fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speedgear train, and a plurality of clutch devices, one individual to eachgear train, for selectively connecting said trains in driving relationwith their respective feeding members.

25. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means for said members including aplural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each memberthrough which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmissionmechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slowpredetermined speed gear train and each gear train including a finalgear individual thereto and rotating on a vertical axis at therespective predetermined terminal speed of the train, and a plurality ofclutches, one individual to each gear train, for selectively connectingsaid trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

26. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each disposed on a vertical axis and adaptedto cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving meansfor said members including a plural predetermined speed transmissionmechanism for each member, through which it, but not the other member,is driven, each transmission mechanism including fast and slowpredetermined speed gear trains, all of the gears of said gear trainsrotating on fixed axes during drive at either speed. 27. A miningmachine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding memberseach disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly withflexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for saidmembers including a fast and slow predetermined speed transmissionmechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, isdriven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speedworm gear train and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, andclutches for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation withtheir respective feeding members.

28. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means for said members including afast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each memberthrough which it, but not the other member, is

driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speedworm gear train and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, each ofsaid trains including a worm wheel individual thereto and rotatingabouta vertical axis, and clutches for selectively connecting saidtrains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

29. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated driving means for said members including afast and slow predetermined speed transmis sion mechanism for eachmember through which it, but not the other. member, is driven, eachtransmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed worm geartrain and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, the trains fordriving each of said feeding members including worm' wheels rotatingabout vertical axes and Worms rotating on parallel longitudinallyextending axes and meshing with said worm wheels respectively, andclutches for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation withtheir respective feeding members;

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

. CHARLES F. OSGOOD.

